Living the artist’s life in New York City. I am the Artistic Director of Treehouse Shakers, a non-profit dance and theater company, which I co-founded 20 years ago. I am also a writer, director, actor, storyteller, tree hugger and mother. Creativity is my everyday roadmap. www.treehouseshakers.com

Treehouse Shakers

Hatched, BAM Fisher, Hillman Studio

Monday, April 13, 2015

In May, Hatched will return to NYC. I am thrilled at the continued success of this piece; how it continues to grow, gain notoriety, and engage the youngest of audience members. We have also noticed many repeat families in the audience every year.

The anticipation of a cracking egg. From left to right Miranda Wilson, Trey Mitchell & Katie Montoya

I love our newer publicity shots, by Christopher Duggan. His photography completely captures the happiness, joy, and delight that this work brings to the youngest of audience members.

I love the joy of this baby's face, and on our wonderful performer, Katie Montoya.

For Hatched, I wanted to break the fourth wall, and give our wee audiences the ability to wander, interact, and engage with the piece. I am always disheartened when I see a play for young people and the teachers are shushing, the parents are telling their children to be still, and young audiences are expected to watch silently like an adult (which isn't fun as an adult either.) I truly believe, as artists, we need to make work that engages on every level. This first theatrical experience should be one of complete enjoyment, interaction, and heart.

I love this quote from one of our audience members, “Wonderful! And she
could move and interact during the show so I didn’t have to worry about
shushing her. We both thoroughly enjoyed it!”-Juliet Brown, NYC parent & Child Age 3

If you are in the New York City area, I hope you will join us for Hatched. It is great for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Be sure to bring your camera; there are a lot of great moments to capture.

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About Me

Originally from Wyoming, Mara co-founded Treehouse Shakers. She has written, directed, and sometimes acted in Treehouse Shakers' 14 original dance-plays, 6 of which are on a rotating tour. In 1999, Mara co-created Niñopalooza, an all day rock concert for kids, and Niño Nada, a festival of children’s theatrical work acclaimed by the New York Times. Awarded “Best Storyteller of New York” by the NY Press, Mara has performed throughout the U.S. and is the featured teller for F.I.T’s Toy Design Depart, and has been a teller for Baby Gap, Miramax, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Turtle Pond Publications, Chocolate Sauce Publishing, The Tribeca Film Festival, to name a few. Currently, she is a writer, voice-over artist and story consultant for Activity Works, an interactive educational web series for classrooms across the U.S. Mara was also the subject for a qualitative dissertation on the inclusion of storytelling in the classroom by Dr. Barb O’Neill. Some favorite acting credits include; Bloomsday on Broadway, featured on NPR and The Sandpiper at Symphony Space. She has performed with MTC, Playwrights Theater, Eugene O’Neill by-the-Sea-Festival, Provincetown Playhouse, among others.